Fixture support



FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed April 50, 1934 ,mrmn

. =37 L j i g1 g i Geogpe Qrrad Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a support for electrical fixturesand has more particular reference to a post arm or bracket providing aweather-proof conductor passageway capable of universal adjustment.

An important object of the invention is in the provision of a postbracket or arm which is rotatable at the upper end of a post with aprojecting covered passageway for conductors and with a fixture hangerat the outer end of the arm having a limited universal joint foradjustment of an electric fixture supported thereby without danger ofcrimping or twisting a conductor Wire extending therethrough and makingcontinuous contact with the electric fixture.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of improved meansfor limiting the spheri- I cal adjustment of the fixture hanger and forclamping it tightly in any adjusted position.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of improvedmeans for attaching the support at the top of a post and for providing aclosed junction box at the top thereof for making the electricalconnections.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of improvedmeans for holding the hanger in the end of the arm even though thefastening means therefor has been loosened topermit its angularadjustment in the arm.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the accompanyingdrawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in whichFig. 1 is a side elevation of the fixture support in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a section through the outer end of th supporting arm and thehanger;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-'-3 of Fig. 2;

v Fig. 4 is a section of the arm taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 showingthe hanger in elevation therein;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the hanger clamping member; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the hanger member showing the conductoropening therethrough.

A support for electrical fixtures must be capable of considerableadjustment toprovide the maximum degree of swing for the lamps andrefiectors held thereby, both widewise and vertically. The. presentinvention, in addition to providing an arm which is rotatable in acomplete circle at the'top of a supporting post has a hanger whichpermits a vertical adjustment about a substantially spherical headapproximately twenty degrees above and twenty degrees below a horizontalposition, and permitting a horizontal swing of one hundred eightydegrees without moving the bracket arm.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, this support comprises atubular portion l adapted to fit over the top of a post II and having aninternal shoulder l2 which limits the insertion of the post II. Thetubular portion extends for some distance above the top of the post anda closure cap I3 is seated thereon having fastening screws M at thesides insertable into a retaining groove I adjacent the top of thetubular portion ID to hold the cap removably in place.

Extending laterally from the tubular portion is a supporting arm [6having an enclosed passageway l'l leading from the space above theshoulder l2 and terminating at its outer end in a hollow domed extremityl8 open at the bottom or lower side. A strengthening rib or web I9 ispreferably cast integral with the arm and tubular portion at theunderside of the arm which strengthens and braces these parts and addssomewhat to the appearance of the support. A wide passageway H is thusprovided extending from the. upper end d of the tubular portion to thedome I 8 so that electrical conductors extending through the post i Ican be connected directly through the arm to the fixture or if desiredthe fixture may be wired through the arm and the conductors connected tothose extending through the posts ll through the junction box providedat the top of the fixture support by simply removing the cover I3.

Mounted in the dome l8 of the support is a hanger member 2| having asubstantially spherical or hollow upper portion 22 fitting somewhatloosely inside of the dome l8. At the top of the spherical portion is anangular opening 23, in one side and adjacent the top is an opening 24extending approximately one hundred eighty degrees around the hanger andin the opposite outer face of the spherical portion is a recess 25extending approximately one hundred eighty degrees around the sphericalportion and above and below the center thereof.

Extending through a hole 26 in the top of the dome portion 18 andthrough the opening 23 at the top of the hanger is a fastening bolt 21which has an outer head 28 and washers 29 between the head and the topof the dome portion for making a weather-tight joint therewith. Thisbolt is threaded into a clamping member 30 having a rounded or somewhatspherical upper surface for conforming to the inside of the sphericalportion 22 of the hanger member so that when the bolt is threaded intothe clamping member 30 it will draw it up tightly against the inside ofthe hanger member 2| and will hold or clamp it tightly in any positionin which it is placed. At the lower end of the bolt 21 is a retainingdevice for preventing disengagement of the clamping member 3|]comprising a small washer 3| and a screw 32 threaded-through the-washerandzintothebolt 21 so that evenflthoughthebolt is backed outof-ftheclamping member 30 to release it from clamping engagement withthe hanger 2|, the bolt CfiIll'lQtaJ be disengaged entirely from theclamping member without first removing the retaining screw '32," Theobject of this construction is to preyentihe, disengagement of thehanger 2| from the arm l6 when the fixture is applied thereto or;islbeinge seated or adjusted.

Extending inwardly from the inner side of the dome is' a smallprojection.331adapted'toengage in the recess .25" of the hanger memberand, to. limit the angular up anddown and rotary circular movement ofthe hanger to the-.extentlof thev recess-25; T This projection 33rispreferably ,opposite the passage I! in; the arm I 61., sothat theopening-24 through the wall .of the hangermem ber willialways have aportion-thereof registering; with the passageway ll forthe-free passageand: extent'of the -.conductors;20;which extend to, the.- fixturesupported .bythe Ehanger 2 h; Aswthe past-x; sage I 1in...the.-arm--isof, material width' with re; spectto the opening 24 inzthe. han er-itwill :be. we seen thatgthe rotarylmovement of V:the hanger in the domeportion N3 of the arm may be-as much: or slightly; more :thanionehundred (eighty degrees andgathe angular; upgandxdown movement may?easilybe twenty oritwenty-fivedegrees -above.;and-,-' belowthehorizontal-position ;with.0ut; crimping; or binding "the conductors; 20;in any position;

In: the lower end -;of hthelhangen-z I; is:a .ShQLllri 1 deredrecess-35in which a lamp supportingsocket; 367may be received-andwiththreadedproj ections 1 31 above it into:. which fasteningscrews,:.3B;.-= are insertedyfromzthe socket; The conductors-2.01amconnected tosuitable; terminals 39; at the upper ends;of;-the socket;Extendingfromsthe fasten-.1 ing; screws 38, and;held in place by.them-,o;ar,e clamping; plates- 4|l1'gwhich1x extend; around the r upperendof the socket and within thegspace enclosedzbyaflange; or rim ,4 atthe flower-{edge oil; the hanger so thatthezupperfi-rim'42 :ofashadelors reflector 43 maybe seated-gor-inserted within-the; flange '4and engagedgbythe-lower. clamping edge; of the plates 40 for holding thereflector in place; A lam-p; ilkofsui-table size :is insertedin thesocket and maybe removed --I or replacement without any movement of the;shade; or-;-reflector.

In applying-this fixturesupportit is first setainplace-at the top ofarpostd I; rotated to placeitheg arm l 6 in. theproper-directionandthen'lockedginy placeon the post bymeansvofsuitablerset screws 45 extending;,through the tubularportionandinto: engagement with -the -;post.=: If the supportw-isi wiredthe conductors are extended through the: passage l1 and byremovingthecap |3.they may-v be connected to the conductors-2m extendingup-- wardly through thespost. The hanger-2| ;is-adjusted in-theproper-angularandarotary position by first :looseningthe bolt 2Iandthenclampingv the hanger tightly in place bymeansof the bolt: and theclamping ,member 30a, In, any positionin; which; it :is set x the--conductors thereimwhicharel preferably left with a little loosenessinvthe: m A not :b *kinked cr -hound by: en a e;

ment between the edges of the opening 24 and the end of the passagewayI! so that there is no danger of wearing the conductors orshortcircuiting the current therethrough even though the hanger issubjected to much adjustment and resetting.

Although this construction is described in connection with a post typeof fixture support it is obvious that a similar adjustable hanger may beused wherever ;it is applicable.

I claim 2 1. A fixture support comprising a hollow arm with a sphericalrecess at its outer end, a hanger having a spherical portion mounted inthe recess andppen-ing at one side of the hanger to register with thepassage of the arm and cooperating means at the other side of the hangerbetween the hanger and the support comprising a projection o n one partand a rectangular recess on the corresponding face of the other partengaged by thesproi tion.vforelimit ne.the pen n t han er;-t0;;register;with the passage in; the arm to; the ifull extent permitted ,by: saidrectangular recess; but; permittin a tative and. an u ar. 1 upand downadjustment of thehanger within the. re ess;

r In a-wfixtmesupp rt; a proje ting r m.

having'anpnlarged; recess atthe outer end there f .Mneer member t t ble.in he recess s ili eran iop hinelextendin 5 i ally half? way a outthe hr and: the h n er movable at arr-angle ;-to, the arm above-andpelow itsnormal ori ntal p sition-w t aportion of the openi s tihreeister am ha pt o -of th passa eway, an en a n nsp rthei si e f the e lar ment of thesupportandon theoutside of the an Bk PR t-ethe open n for e ist in a theopen n :p s ezmembeht e holl w i ethe e s about the. an rando a Width prmit;

r laneii anadiu meht o app y orty fivedegreesandstillmaintain a registryof a por-- tion thereof; with a portion of the passageway, andinterengaging means between the outer wall of ,the ;hanger;;and-;theinnenwall the spherical portion of the support: for limiting themovement-of the ha-ngerrsorthat a portion of the opening thereof willalways register with a portion, .of 5.

h -passa ewayinrthe arm 4. In a fixture support, an arm having a pas-Vsageway anda hollow dome at .theend ofv the arm communicating with thepassageway, a hanger rotatably and angularly movable in the dome, andhaving an opening -;in ;one wall to register with the opening of thepassageway, means ,for limiting the-g-movement of the hanger to registerasportionwof the opening thereof with a portion of the passageway, andmeans extending through the; d0me:and,, engaging; the inside of thehanger for; clamping; it removably' in any 'position in whiclrit-is;adjusted within the dome.

5;; Ag-fixture support comprising a hollow arm with: n;enlarged:circular portion at the outer end.-; .han erhavi a ball head fittingloosely withi the circular portion; and having an opene .sihzteewalli;t0;.-re ster.- with e p sa e y of the arm, means to limit theangular and rotary movement of the hanger in the enlarged portion of thearm, and a clamp comprising a member on the inside of the hanger and afastening member accessible from the outside of the enlarged portion andextending through the wall thereof into engagement with the clampingmemher.

6. In a fixture support, an arm having a passageway therethrough and anenlarged hollow portion communicating with the arm, a hollow hangermember with a spherical head portion fitting within the enlargement ofthe arm, an opening through the top wall of the hanger and anotheropening through the side wall of the hanger adapted to register with thepassageway in the arm, a clamping member on the inside of the hangerconforming to the interior wall thereof, and a fastening bolt extendingthrough the wall of the enlarged portion of the support and through thetop wall of the hanger member and threaded into the clamping member forholding the hanger in any adjusted position as permitted by theengagement of the bolt with the edges of the top opening of the hangerso that the side wall opening will always have a portion thereofregistering with the passageway of the arm.

7. In a fixture support, a hollow supporting arm, a hollow hanger memberadjustable therein, a clamp for the hanger comprising a member extendinginside of the hanger, a bolt extending through the wall of the supportand threaded through the clamping member, and means secured in the endof the. bolt and beyond the threads thereof but extending beyond theperiphery thereof for preventing unthreading disengagement of the boltfrom the clamping member when the latter is loosened to permitadjustment of the hanger in the arm.

8. A fixture support having a downwardly opening recessed portion, ahollow hanger rotatable and angularly adjustable therein, an open ing inthe top of the hanger, a supporting and clamping member within thehanger larger than the top opening therein, a fastening bolt extendingthrough the top of the support through the opening in the hanger andthrough the clamping member, and means comprising a headed screwthreaded into the lower end of the bolt and a washer confined betweenthe screw head and the end of the bolt and extending free of the boltthreads beyond the periphery thereof and adapted to engage the underside of the clamping member to prevent the withdrawal of the bolt fromthe clamping member whereby the parts are held in relative positionagainst dislodgment when the fastening bolt is loosened for adjustmentof the hanger in the support.

9. A post type of fixture support comprising a hollow tubular portion tofit the upper end of a post, a laterally extending arm with a hollowpassageway communicating with the tubular portion, and an enlargement atthe outer end of the arm, a hanger both rotatable and angularlyadjustable in the arm, means for limiting both directions of movement ofthe hanger in the enlargement, a lamp support carried by the hangerhaving conductors extending therefrom through an opening in the wall ofthe hanger, and a portion of the opening being always kept in registerwith the passageway in the arm by said limiting means and forming anunobstructed passage for said conductors to the upper end of the tubularportion and a removable cap for the top of the tubular portion wherebyaccess may be had for making connections between conductors extendingthrough the arm and conductors extending through a post to which thesupport is connected.

10. A structure in accordance with claim 9 in which the upper end of thetubular portion is provided with an internal projection to limit theinsertion of a post therein and preventing the closure of the passagethrough the arm extending from the tubular portion thereby protectingthe conductors and insuring access to them from the upper end of thetubular portion.

11. The combination with a hollow arm having an end enlargementcommunicating therewith, a hollow fixture hanger both rotatable andangularly movable transversely to the rotatable movement in theenlargement having an opening in one Wall to register with the passageof the arm, a lamp support carried by the hanger having conductorsextending therefrom through the opening in the hanger and into thepassageway of the arm, and means interengaging between the hanger andthe inside of the enlargement comprising a surface recess having bothlength and width for correspondingly limiting the movement of the hangerwith respect thereto so that in any rotary and transverse angularadjusted position of the hanger a communicating passage for theconductors is afforded between the opening in the wall of the hanger andthe passageway of the arm.

12. A fixture support comprising a hollow arm with an end enlargementcommunicating therewith, a hollow hanger rotatable and angularly movablein the enlargement with an opening in the wall thereof to communicatewith the passage in the arm, means to limit the movement of the hangerin the enlargement to cause a registry at all times between a portion ofthe opening and a portion of the passageway, a lamp support carried bythe hanger having conductors extending through the interior of thehanger and through the opening of the wall thereof into the passagewayof the arm, a reflector for a lamp, and clamping means supported betweenthe lamp support and the hanger and having projecting ends to engageWithin the upper portion of the reflector for holding it in placeagainst the hanger.

GEORGE AREAS.

